Cranford Gas Station Owner Helps Rescue Kitten Trapped Under Car

Odyssey was rescued by workers at Cranford Sunoco after getting stuck in the wheel well of a minivan. (Photo courtesy of the Cranford Chamber of Commerce)

CRANFORD – While running errands last Friday, Cranford resident Lisa Ford noticed a strange sound coming from her Honda Odyssey minivan. After turning off her radio, pulling over and checking under her vehicle, she came to the conclusion that an animal must have gotten stuck somewhere in the vehicle where she could not see it.

Concerned for the animal’s safety, Ford drove to the Cranford Sunoco on Centennial Avenue for assistance. When she got near the station, the animal began to scream loudly. “I felt that it was either very scared or injured,” Ford said.

Business owner Kurt Petschow came to Ford’s aid and drove the vehicle to the back of the station to begin the search for the animal. After more than two hours and the removal of several pieces of the minivan, mechanics were able to rescue an uninjured gray female kitten, approximately 8 weeks old.

The kitten, now named Odyssey, was adopted by one of the Cranford Sunoco mechanics.

Ford was not charged for the mechanics’ efforts to rescue the kitten.

“It is establishments like Cranford Sunoco that make me proud to live in Cranford,” Ford said. “The entire Sunoco staff worked cooperatively and unselfishly to help a neighbor as well as save the little life of a precious animal…. Thank you, Cranford Sunoco!”